NWCC National Specialty

The first dog show I attended in 1965 was the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills. I was there with my Aunt and Uncle, Mary and Norm Bowker, of Bowmanor Kennels, and was immediately hooked. When I discovered that it was possible to make a living by devoting my life to purebred dogs, I decided to make that my goal. My first breed was Dalmatians, and I finished my second Dal in 1968, and handled him to Best of Breed at Westminster in 1969, while still in high school. In fact, my kennel name of “Shamasan” is derived from my first three show dogs, Dalmatians “Shadow” and “Major”, and Bedlington Terrier “Sandy”.  As I became a handler's assistant, I needed a smaller, more portable breed, and I had always admired Whippets. I acquired "Amy" in 1972 from Susan Vargus (now McCoy), of Westgate Whippets and Amy became BIS Ch. Westgate the Enchantress ROMX. Thus began my love affair with the breed. 

   In the mid 70s, two things happened that influenced my perspective. Through my friend Pat Whiteside, long time kennel manager at Stoney Meadows, I met Mrs. Doris Wear of that famed kennel, and Mrs. Wear became my mentor and friend. Through her I also met Mrs. Cora N. Miller of Hound Hill, and our friendship continued over the years with many successful joint ventures in breeding and showing.  I still miss them both immensely. I also had the good fortune to get to know Doug and Mary Beth Arthur of Marial fame, and attend some NPR race meets, which allowed me to appreciate the total whippet in all it's potential.

I served on the Board of Directors of the American Whippet Club (AWC) in the 1980s, and also as Secretary of the Club at a time when we were going through many changes.  It was a challenging time, yet very fulfilling.  I have been a breeder, a handler, a photographer, an all-breed show chairperson, and a regional AWC specialty chairperson. I have been the AKC Gazette columnist for Whippets for at least 20 years. I have shown, raced, and coursed my Whippets, and had many others represent my breeding well in obedience and agility. I have been fortunate to breed Whippets who have Best in Show, Best in Field and Race Meet wins.

   Since the early 80s, my focus has been on breeding Whippets who can enjoy every facet of competition. And since this is truly a "color immaterial" breed, I have also taken my lessons from the Stoney Meadows rainbow of colors, and sought to compete with quality Whippets of every color. I want a Whippet that is typey, curvy, muscular, and sound, one of impeccable temperament who is fit to work, and who also has the beautiful head and intelligent expression that drew me to the breed in the first place. 

I have devoted my life to purebred dogs in general, and Whippets in particular. I admire everything about Whippets, from their flawless temperament and their versatility, to their health and longevity, and my goal is to maintain all of those attributes in equal measure.  My personal goals have been to be able to breed a Whippet who, regardless of color and markings, can compete successfully in all areas of Whippet activities at the same time.  It has been a lofty goal in this age of specialization. We are always striving for more. The quest continues.

I am a proud second generation fancier, breeder, and exhibitor.  My mother, Carolyn Bowers, founded our kennel with Pembroke Welsh Corgis in the early 1970's, which was when I began my Juniors career with Pembrokes and GSD's, although I wasn't very good at it.  I'm a great example of how with work and being allowed to show dogs that actually LIKE to show, you CAN get better!  Although my mother might have been more properly described as a multi-breed fancier (later a semi-professional handler and a judge), I fell madly in love with the first Whippet who came home with mother back in 1978, this being the remarkable but tragically injured Whippoorwill Moonstone ROM.  "Stoney" was a great introduction to both the best aspects of the breed (great bed dog, so beautiful, easy to groom, comical personality) and the not-so-great (Puppies on a constant mission to end their careers with freak injuries and will chase and try to kill anything in the yard that moves...).  Since that first Whippet, I've never really thought seriously about devoting my home to any other breed, although I maintain a lively interest in all the Hound breeds and some of the Toys, and like to help show them and judge them at more informal events.  But it is to Whippets that have I devoted my entire adult life in dogs.  

In my time in this breed, it has been my joy to exhibit dogs both owned and bred by Surrey Hill, and some truly fine Whippets who were not, to some excellent awards and have lost count of my homebred or owned/co-owned champions over the years both south and north of the Canadian border.  But as a person who has never had the luxury of hitting more than a weekend or two of dog shows a month, and also splits their dog competition time with many other great competitions our breed enjoys such as lure coursing, racing, Barn Hunt, Dock Diving and (in the past) obedience and agility--chasing rankings has never been my thing.  I appreciate the total Whippet as a world-wide breed, have utilized and/or owned Whippets from England, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Brazil in my program, and my view on this breed is informed by my observations over the years of the intersection between type, balance, proportion, and function along with deep dives into our breed's history.

In my private life, I am a Hospice Nurse, live with my grown son who is the best puppy raiser ever, and reside outside the city of Richmond, Virginia.  

I am proud to have been asked to judge the Sweepstakes at the Canadian National, given the strength of the breed in Canada and its importance worldwide to the fancy. 

I began my journey in purebred dogs at the age of 12 when I handled a neighbor’s Collie in Junior Showmanship, conformation and Open obedience. Two years later I was introduced to Greyhounds and the sport of Greyhound racing and thus began my lifelong attraction to the Sighthound. I have been involved in the purebred dog world for over 50 years and Whippets specifically since 1990.

I have competed in many sports with my Whippets and have been fortunate to enjoy much success with my dogs. I have finished multiple Bench Champions, including a multiple Specialty Best in Show winner and two National Specialty Award of Merit winners. I have titled dogs in Lure Coursing, Racing, Agility, Rally, Barn Hunt, Nosework and Obedience including four High in Trial dogs and three AWC National Triathlon Champions. My boys have finished multiple field and track titles including 2 National racing Champions (straight and oval racing). Two of my dogs are currently tied for the Highest Championship titled Whippets in Barn Hunt.

I have been an active member of the American Whippet Club since 1992, served as their National Performance Director for 12 years and am a current member of the Judges Education committee. I also serve on the board of the Whippet Health Foundation. I am currently approved  to judge the Hound Group, all-breed Junior Showmanship and 18 Terriers. 

In 2019 I had the amazing opportunity to judge the American Whippet Club National Specialty in Topeka, Kansas. I have been a practicing Veterinarian for 40 years in a variety of practice settings and am currently working part-time in general practice.

It is a distinct honor for me to judge during the Canadian National Specialty weekend and I look forward to seeing your beautiful Whippets!

I have been interested in dogs all my life and started going to dog shows and working with dogs as a teen. My first dog was a miniature smooth Dachshund—I got him while I was a graduate student only because I really wanted a dog but couldn’t yet get the Greyhound I really wanted. Eventually I got my first greyhound in 1995, and I have been breeding/exhibiting greyhounds (under the Pax Mundi prefix) and miniature dachshunds (under the Christofle prefix) ever since. Recently, I have added Brussels Griffons to the mix. I have also had a special interest in Whippets as my brother, Sean, bred and exhibited them for years. In my life outside of dogs, I am—or rather, I was—a college professor. After 32 years of teaching, I have just retired. I look forward to having even more time to indulge in my passion for dogs.